Services for James E. Ray, age 86 of Troy who died September 3, 2009 at his home will be held at 4:00 PM Sunday, September 6, 2009 at Bush Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Ellis Bush officiating. Visitation will be from 2 – 4 PM at the church. Burial will follow in Green Hills Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Green Hills Funeral Home. James Ray was preceded in death by his Parents, George E. and Cathalou (Key) Ray and Great Granddaughter Evelyn Ann Miller. He is survived by his wife Annie Valeria Ray, his son James E. “Jim” Ray, Jr. and wife Shelia of Panama City, Florida and Judy (Ray) Colley and husband Dr. Jere F. Colley of Opelika, Alabama; Grandchildren Jere (Sarah) Colley Jr. , Casey (Heath) Stewart, Tipi (Wes) Miller, Jason Ray, Shannon Ray, Amber Bockman; Great Grandchildren Ray Colley, Trip Colley, Savannah Stewart, and Colt Miller. The family requests memorials be made to the Bush Memorial Baptist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. James Ray attended Troy State University then graduated from Auburn University in 1947 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He served in the US Army during WWII and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received both a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. In 1949 he and Carlos Botts established Botts &Ray Professional Engineers in Troy. He taught Engineering Drawing at Troy State University for 31 years. He served the City of Troy on the City Commission and was mayor for 3 terms from 1963 – 1975. He was a member of the Alabama State House of Representatives from 1979 to 1984 and was inducted into the Alabama Hall of Fame in 1999. He received the W. Kelly Mosley Environmental Award. He served on the Samuel Ginn Engineering Council at Auburn University; the Board of Directors of the Colley Senior Center Complex; the Board of Directors of the Alabama Soil &Water Conservation Association; The Governor’s Industrial Advisory Committee; The Board of Directors of the Edge Memorial Hospital; A Life Member of the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors; the State Board of the Alabama Baptist State Convention; the Board of the Alabama Neonatal Commission. He was a member and founder of the Bush Memorial Baptist Church in Troy where he was a lay speaker, Deacon, Interim Minister of Music and a Sunday School teacher. He also served as President of the Alabama Gideons Association. James Ray loved the outdoors, Auburn University, his bride of 64 years, Annie Valeria, his children and grandchildren. With an air of optimism and enthusiam for living, he brought everyone he met into his life and encouraged them to strive for excellence. Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Ray family.